EVITA for Launceston

After an 18 year absence from Australian stages, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical EVITA plays at the Princess Theatre, Launceston in March 2015.

Bringing to life the dynamic, larger-than-life persona of Eva Perón, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, EVITA tells the story from her humble beginnings to the enormous wealth and power she gained and her ultimate rise to sainthood.

Adored by her people as a champion for the poor, she became one of the most powerful women in the world - while her greed, outsized ambition and fragile health made her one of the most tragic.

EVITA tells Eva's passionate and true story and features songs including Don't Cry For Me Argentina, On This Night of a Thousand Stars, Oh, What A Circus and Another Suitcase in Another Hall.

Encore Theatre Company has secured the rights to stage EVITA, following their recent successful productions of The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Misérables.

Matthew Garwood, who plays Che, moved to the mainland from Tasmania in 2012 to perform after enjoying success in the local musical scene with numerous lead roles in Encore shows, including Marius (Les Misérables), Lumiere (Beauty and the Beast) and Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). In 2014 Matthew was chosen as a finalist on the national TV program The Voice, where he was mentored by Ricky Martin. Upon returning to Tasmania, Matthew played of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. His debut CD, The Tattooed Tenor, has just been released.

Katy Pakinga (Eva Perón),passionate about her local community and helping young people achieve their best, has been recognised for her community service including being featured on the cover of the 2014 Yellow Pages for the North West Coast for “inspiring others to achieve”, a finalist for the Women Entrepreneur Awards, Australian of the Year and Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year awards. Her local stage roles include Maria in The Sound of Music, Velma Kelly in Chicago, Nikki Wade in Bad Girls and Pippi in The Great American Trailer Park Musical.

CAST

Eva Perón: Katy Pakinga

Che: Matthew Garwood

Juan Perón: Dean Cocker

Augustin Magaldi: Maus McCord

The Mistress: Abbey Hansson

THE PEOPLE OF ARGENTINA: George Abbott, Aaron Beck, Rory Bush-Belton, Lee Brient, Maggii Campbell, Ashley Caskie, Alexandra Colbeck, Sheridan Collis Oates, Alex Cooper, Nikia Cornish Breen, Deborah Cottle, Sally Crates, Molly Doyer, Leroy Enniss, Susie Fisher, Stephanie Francis, Maddi Gaby, Dearbhla Gillen, Cameron Grant, Janiene Hill, Justin Hood, Lucy McDonald, Flynn Miller, Belle Paley, Celeste Quigley, Kevin Quigley, Try Ridgway, Khaleb Rock, Anna Roddick, Frances Seen, Bindy Stephens, Georgia Sutton, Steve Thomas, Sinead Tracey, Hamish White, Lynzee Williams, Dylan Woodcock, Michaela Young

CHILDREN OF ARGENTINA: Harrison Andersen, Rhiannon Bone, Marcus Garwood, Georgia Hillier, Sophie Hillier, Sakura White-Sugito